Earlier this week, Leeds City Council published three new options for road links to improve access to the airport.

The options included the building of a new road from the A65, running along the eastern edge of the airport before joining the A658 to the north, a new road following the same initial path from the A65 running between Rawdon and Horsforth then to the south west of the airport before joining the A658 or upgrading the existing A65 and A658 around Rawdon and Yeadon to the airport by widening existing roads and upgrading junctions.

But Mr Andrew, MP for Pudsey, Horsforth and Aireborough, slammed the lack of a rail link and said a link road could result in further congestion and limit economic growth.

He said: “I have been arguing for a rail link since I became a Member of Parliament, as one of the biggest issues that I am contacted about is congestion in the area. I have continuously raised the benefit of a rail link in Parliament and with the council, so I am disappointed that these plans appear to have been ignored.

“It is incredible that our regional airport, which has such ambitious plans for growth, is not being met with a rail connection. As well as the economic benefits that a rail link would bring, it would prevent further erosion of the precious greenbelt in the area. I will continue to argue for a rail link, and hope that the council will listen to the benefits that it would bring.”

The Leeds Bradford International Airport Connectivity Study has already set out the potential benefit of a new link road and it is hoped that the plans would help boost access and tackle existing congestion.